Abstract: Methods and devices for directly measuring the degree of saturation or degree of deactivation of an adsorbent and/or catalytic bed are described herein. The devices contain an inlet, an outlet, a catalytic and/or adsorbent bed, and optionally a support bed for supporting the catalytic and/or adsorbent bed. The devices further contain one or more structures attached to the reactor that allow for insertion of one or more sensors into the reactor. The sensor is used to spectroscopically interrogate the adsorbent and/or catalyst in situ, providing real-time information regarding adsorbant saturation and/or catalyst deactivation. The devices and methods described herein can be used to determine the saturation degree of adsorbent materials or catalyst beds that are involved in gas-liquid and liquid-liquid heterogeneous systems, such as those used in scrubbing and extraction.

Abstract: Catalysts for oxidative sulfur removal and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The catalysts contain one or more reactive metal salts dispersed on one or more substrates. Suitable reactive metal salts include those salts containing multivariable metals having variable valence or oxidation states and having catalytic activity with sulfur compounds present in gaseous fuel streams. In some embodiments, the catalyst contains one or more compounds that function as an oxygen sponge under the reaction conditions for oxidative sulfur removal. The catalysts can be used to oxidatively remove sulfur-containing compounds from fuel streams, particularly gaseous fuel streams having high sulfur content.

Abstract: Improved methods for preparing highly porous mesh media and loading functional particles into the media are described herein. The highly porous media can be used as supports for catalyst materials for a variety of applications, such as desulfurization. Pre-manufactured catalyst can be loaded into the sintered open media. Thus, the contamination issues associated wetlay paper making and pre-oxidation, the deactivation issues associated with the sintering and pre-oxidation steps, and the corrosion issues associated with the catalyst formation step can be avoided. The methods described herein result in the formation of highly porous media with functional particles immobilized inside.

Abstract: Methods for improving heat transfer at the interface between the internal reactor wall and mesh media containing microfibrous entrapped catalysts (MFECs) and/or microfibrous entrapped sorbents (MFESs) are described herein. Improved (e.g., more rapid) heat transfer can be achieved using a variety of approaches including increasing the contacting area of the interface between the mesh media and the reactor wall so that more contacting points are formed, enhancing the contacting efficiency at the contacting points between the mesh media and the reactor wall, increasing the number of contact points between the mesh media and the reactor wall using fine fibers, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Thermal management systems for high energy density batteries, particularly arrays of such batteries, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The system includes one or more thermal conductive microfibrous media with one or more phase change materials dispersed within the microfibrous media and one or more active cooling structures. Energy storage packs or arrays which contain a plurality of energy storage cells and the thermal management system are also described. Further described are thermal or infrared shielding blankets or barriers comprising one or more thermal conductive microfibrous media comprising one or more phase change materials dispersed within the microfibrous media.

Abstract: Thermal management systems for high energy density batteries, particularly arrays of such batteries, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The system includes one or more thermal conductive microfibrous media with one or more phase change materials dispersed within the microfibrous media and one or more active cooling structures. Energy storage packs or arrays which contain a plurality of energy storage cells and the thermal management system are also described. Further described are thermal or infrared shielding blankets or barriers comprising one or more thermal conductive microfibrous media comprising one or more phase change materials dispersed within the microfibrous media.

Abstract: Methods for improving heat transfer at the interface between the internal reactor wall and mesh media containing microfibrous entrapped catalysts (MFECs) and/or microfibrous entrapped sorbents (MFESs) are described herein. Improved (e.g., more rapid) heat transfer can be achieved using a variety of approaches including increasing the contacting area of the interface between the mesh media and the reactor wall so that more contacting points are formed, enhancing the contacting efficiency at the contacting points between the mesh media and the reactor wall, increasing the number of contact points between the mesh media and the reactor wall using fine fibers, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Improved methods for preparing highly porous mesh media and loading functional particles into the media are described herein. The highly porous media can be used as supports for catalyst materials for a variety of applications, such as desulfurization. Pre-manufactured catalyst can be loaded into the sintered open media. Thus, the contamination issues associated wetlay paper making and pre-oxidation, the deactivation issues associated with the sintering and pre-oxidation steps, and the corrosion issues associated with the catalyst formation step can be avoided. The methods described herein result in the formation of highly porous media with functional particles immobilized inside.

Abstract: Catalysts for oxidative sulfur removal and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The catalysts contain one or more reactive metal salts dispersed on one or more substrates. Suitable reactive metal salts include those salts containing multivariable metals having variable valence or oxidation states and having catalytic activity with sulfur compounds present in gaseous fuel streams. In some embodiments, the catalyst contains one or more compounds that function as an oxygen sponge under the reaction conditions for oxidative sulfur removal. The catalysts can be used to oxidatively remove sulfur-containing compounds from fuel streams, particularly gaseous fuel streams having high sulfur content.

Abstract: Methods and devices for directly measuring the degree of saturation or degree of deactivation of an adsorbent and/or catalytic bed are described herein. The devices contain an inlet, an outlet, a catalytic and/or adsorbent bed, and optionally a support bed for supporting the catalytic and/or adsorbent bed. The devices further contain one or more structures attached to the reactor that allow for insertion of one or more sensors into the reactor. The sensor is used to spectroscopically interrogate the adsorbent and/or catalyst in situ, providing real-time information regarding adsorbant saturation and/or catalyst deactivation. The devices and methods described herein can be used to determine the saturation degree of adsorbent materials or catalyst beds that are involved in gas-liquid and liquid-liquid heterogeneous systems, such as those used in scrubbing and extraction.